Honda can trace its automotive roots back to 1959 when they developed their first automobile test-mule (engine and body package) called the X 170. It utilized a 360cc, overhead cam, air-cooled, 60 degree, V4 engine fed by two side-draft carburetors mounted between the heads, and front wheel drive.

X190

This gave way in 1960 to the X 190 test automobile, a 2 seat convertible sports car with a flat-four engine, rear wheel drive, a conventional live rear axle with leaf springs, and a fiberglass body.

S360

These were the predecessors to Honda’s first true production-ready, prototype auto, the Sports 360, which made its public debut at the 1962 Tokyo Motor Show. Powered by an all new, DOHC, water-cooled, in-line 4 cylinder engine with four carburetors, it produced 33 horsepower from 356cc at an unheard of 9,000 rpm. The car also featured a steel body, a five speed manual transmission, and for an automobile, a very unusual chain final drive utilizing aluminum swing arms which served double duty as chain cases, and also acted as trailing arms for independent rear suspension.

T360

It was shown alongside the T360, a small cab-over-engine pick up truck, and the S500, a larger-engined and larger-bodied version of the tiny sports car, both of which shared the S360’s basic engine design. The S360 never actually went into production because of conflicts with the contemporary Japanese Government’s size and displacement rules, and restrictive tax laws.

Fortunately for both us and Mr. Honda, his fiery character compelled him into fighting the government, and pushing forth with his plans to produce automobiles. The first Honda automotive product to actually go into production was the T360 truck in June of 1963. With a slightly detuned version of the S360 engine, it produced 30 horsepower at 8,500 rpm. Between June 1963 and August 1967, Honda produced 108,920 of these "sports trucks" in four different versions; a T360 with a conventional pick up truck bed (pictured); a T360F flat bed with wooden slats; a T360H with a flat pick up truck bed and sides that fold in addition to the tailgate; and a T360V "panel van" with an enclosed, hard cap over the bed.

T500

The T360's big brother, the T500, was produced from September1964 to November1967. It was available in two body styles; a conventional pick up bed, and the T500F, shown here, with the flatbed and sides that fold down in addition to the tailgate. Engine displacement was increased to 531cc, increasing the horsepower to 38 at 7,500 rpm. Total production over the four year span was 10,226.

S500

The S500 followed the T360 into production in October of 1963, earning itself the title of the first production Honda car. Initially introduced with a 492cc engine, the specifications read like those from a Formula 1 race car; double overhead camshafts, four carburetors, a needle roller bearing crankshaft, and a 9,500 rpm redline. The car produced 44 horsepower at 8,000 rpm from its later, production displacement of 531cc, weighed approximately 1,500 pounds, and could achieve a top speed of 80 miles per hour.

A four speed transmission (with synchromesh on the top three gears) was utilized. Final drive was by oil bath chains to the rear wheels. Four wheel independent suspension was achieved using torsion bars in the front, and diagonally attaching coil-over-shock strut units to the rear of each chain case.

Brand new, it sold for the equivalent of $1,275. A fiberglass hardtop was offered as an optional accessory. There were 1,363 S500s produced between October 1963 and September 1964 (136 in 1963, and 1,227 in 1964), when it was supplanted by the larger-engined S600.

S600

The S600, launched in March of 1964, was the first Honda car to be offered in two versions; a convertible almost identical to its S500 sibling, and a fastback coupe, introduced in March of 1965. Styling would remain pretty much the same, with the most noteworthy changes coming to the front grille, bumper, and headlights.

For this model, the engine capacity was increased to 606 cc. The engine produced 57 hp at 8500 rpm and had a top speed of 90 mph. With the convertible weighing in at 1576 pounds, the extra sheet metal of the coupe only added 33 pounds to the overall weight.

The S600 was the first "mass marketed" Honda car. First offered with right hand steering only, it soon became available in left hand steering so as to be appealing to the export market. (There were a few pre-production S500s manufactured with left hand steering, two or three even being shown in some early sales brochures, but all production S500s were right hand drive.)

Both the S600 roadster and coupe were available in standard trim and a special, upgraded package called the SM600 which included, among other items, special paint colors, exclusive badging, a standard radio and speaker, a special antenna in the passenger side sun visor, standard reversing lights, a standard cigarette lighter, a standard heater, better cushioned seats, and a detachable seat track for quick removal of the passenger seat.

Production of the S600 was much greater than that of the S500. In fact, of the three production engine sizes for the sports cars, the S600 had the highest figures.

Honda built 3,912 roadsters in 1964, with production climbing to 7,261 convertibles and 1,519 coupes in 1965. Production dropped off in 1966 (as they were shifting to the S800) with only 111 roadsters and 281 coupes, giving tallies of 11,284 convertibles and 1,800 coupes for the 3 year span.